Warning: SPOILERS for Ted Lasso Season 2.
Ted Lasso season 2 has only streamed a couple of episodes so far but the Apple TV+ soccer comedy has already had a curious amount of Star Wars references. In season 2, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) continues his stint as the head coach of London's AFC Richmond football club, which has been made more challenging by the return of their troublesome ex-star, Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) and the addition of a new sports psychologist, Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles). But there is also an underlying significance to all of the mentions of George Lucas' sci-fi fantasy.
Ted Lasso's season 2 premiere, "Goodbye Earl," began with an oddly pointed Star Wars-centric conversation in Rebecca Welton's (Hannah Waddingham) office. Ted wishes Leslie Higgins well by saying, "May the Force be with you," to which Leslie religiously replies, "And also with you." This is after Higgins excused himself to go home, he explained that he was planning to watch The Empire Strikes Back with his sons and he had to prepare an explanation for the scene when Carrie Fisher's Leia Organa kisses Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who is her twin brother. Keeley also quoted Ted to Rebecca when he told her, "Don't fret, Boba Fett." In the second episode of Ted Lasso season 2, "Lavender," Jamie shares a drink with Ted at Coach Lasso's favorite pub and he remarks about Mae the bartender's (Annette Badland) wisdom, "Old people are like tall Yodas."
The constant Star Wars references and genuflecting may seem odd until Ted Lasso's overall master plan is considered. In an interview with USA Today, Jason Sudeikis confirmed that Ted Lasso, which is only planned to run for 3 seasons, is partly conceived in the vein of the original Star Wars trilogy. "It's three acts," Sudeikis said. "I guess they've made other movies besides those first three? But..." Hannah Waddingham also confirmed Ted Lasso's Star Wars-like plan, telling Collider: "I think Jason put it brilliantly... Jason has described Season 2 as The Empire Strikes Back, and I’m inclined to agree with him." Star Wars was obviously a major influence on Ted Lasso's creative team; Sudeikis also noted that season 2 was written before season 1 premiered so Ted Lasso's grand story is mapped out and took cues from how George Lucas plotted the original Star Wars trilogy.
The Empire Strikes Back is usually referred to as the darkest chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy but that's really just a shorthand for Empire being the most complex and character-driven part of the saga. Empire explored Luke, Darth Vader (David Prowse and James Earl Jones), Leia, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and the other characters more deeply and placed them in challenging scenarios that tested their loyalties to each other. Empire Strikes Back also contained the pivotal twist that Darth Vader was really Luke's father. Meanwhile, important new characters like Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) were introduced.
Ted Lasso season 2 is visibly following key story beats from Empire Strikes Back. Dr. Sharon Fieldstone arrived at AFC Richmond and she's already vexed Ted since Sharon seemed to be immune to his folksy American charms, although Sharon did begin to warm up to Ted by the end of episode 2. But Sharon has insightful wisdom that could be described as Yoda-like. A stronger tie can be drawn to Empire Strikes Back in that Jamie confessed his problems with his abusive, overbearing father to Coach Lasso. This makes Jamie the show's ersatz Luke Skywalker as the 'hero' with the biggest daddy issues who turns Ted as his own Yoda/Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness). Meanwhile, Jamie's desire to return to AFC Richmond instantly sparked turmoil within the team.
Ted Lasso already boasts rich characters who evolve and better themselves under Ted's watch, and the show's underlying themes of kindness and appreciation are very much in tune with the philosophy behind the Force. It remains to be seen how 'dark' Ted Lasso season 2 will get but emotional dramatic turns are sure to come for everyone at AFC Richmond. Ted Lasso season 2 serving as The Empire Strikes Back of the Emmy-nominated comedy series bodes well and it wouldn't be a surprise if Ted Lasso continues making its Star Wars connections so overt.